IBM still not shiping the ThinkPad I ordered in July

[Zenmervolt]

I ordered a ThinkPad in July (A20p, 1400x1050 15" display, P-III 750, 20GB HDD). About two months later IBM discontinues that model before shipping my order (I was # 60 something of 300+ people waiting) and "transitions" me to the model in my sig without a price increase. I'm still waiting and am wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to annoy IBM enough to get them off their @sses long enough to ship my order. Officially I'm one of 16 people on a "priority list" for the ThinkPad, but they have no idea when (if?) they will get the model I ordered in stock. I'm considering showing up at the factory in person to get the thing. Any ideas are most welcome.

Aaron Meyer

 

[edblor]

Yeah, I have an idea for you...

Buy Toshiba or Sony. Just as good, smaller and way Less expensive!

I like IBM, but they obviously don't value your business!

Just my thoughts pal,

Edblor

EDIT: If your looking for the Huge TFT screen, Acer has a 17" one available in a lappy!

review here:the Tech Zone

 

[Zenmervolt]

Toshiba and Sony aren't options, they don't use the 16MB version of the ATI Rage Mobility 128, which is a "war goal" for me. Also, I want nothing less than an SXGA+ (1400x1050) 15" display. Combined with the IBM's 5400 RPM HDD (most others are 4200 RPM) there's almost nothing that can touch the A21p in performance. This laptop needs to go four years minimum without replacement (well, 3 and a half now) and I don't see the Sony doing that, though a Tecra 8100 would be my choice if they offered the right parts combo (they don't).

 

[DarkRipper]

Drools

That's a hell of a laptop man....

Too bad you have to wait for it....

DR

 

[denali]

Check out the Dell Inspiron 8000. You can get 512MB Ram, 32GB HD, CD and (DVD or CD-RW), 32MB ATI Mobility M4, and 15" Super XGA+.

 

[Pretender]

Awww, poor baby. Can't get your precious overpriced laptop fast enough? I'm really having trouble being sad for you, considering as how my desktop is sh!tloads slower then your laptop.

 

[Zenmervolt]

<RANT>
Thanks Pretender, I needed that like I need a hole in the head. Overpriced, typically yes, but I'm getting the laptop for about $3600 because of the wait and a discount for college students. The ThinkPad is my graduation present/scholarship present from my parents. If I had not gotten my full tuition scholarship to college (out of state, $45-50K saved over 4 years) I would be using a $1500 desktop instead. I love the way some people immediately jump to the conclusion that anyone with an expensive system must be somehow spoiled. I have worked my @$$ of through the last 12 years of school and have at least 8 more ahead of me (nothing less than a Masters Degree will do). As for &quot;can't get it fast enough&quot;, I have been waiting since 10 July, 4 months is too long for anyone to wait for something that was initially promised for delivery in &quot;2-3 weeks&quot;. As I said, this laptop will be around and in use for at least four years, there is no sense to me in getting a $2500 laptop twice (because after 2 years it will be too slow for an IS/CS major) when I can get a $3600 laptop once and have the excellent reliability for which IBM is known.
</RANT>

Aaron Meyer

BTW, the ThinkPad, once delivered, will be the most expensive thing I have ever owned, far eclipsing the $600 motorcycle I saved up for from a year of working as a bellboy at a hotel. Also I don't anticipate being able to buy anything equivalent for a long time to come, so I may as well have fun while I can.

 

[kami]

That's a damn sweet laptop man...drooool. I'm jealous

hope you get it soon...if you are on a short 16 person wait list maybe you won't have to wait too much longer. You could always bitch and whine at them too.

 

[The Stigenator]

try the dell 8000 series.. you will like it. I myself am considering one.

 

[LAUST]

Zenmervolt


Check out the Compaq 1800 Presario My brother just got one with the 16 Meg Ati your talking about. I have been supplied with a Dell Latitude Cpx, and I only have the 8 meg card and yes the 16 meg is totally worth it, He can play Q3 and UT on that thing, it's a great laptop the display isn't as nice as mine because his is bigger then mine, but it's still really nice. Did you also see that Nvidia made a GeForce 2 Mobile, That thing looks even faster but I'm not sure when we'll be seeing it in laptops.

 

[vailman]

Well I support you Aaron. Your rant/story sounds very familiar. I was able to get a 4 year full tutition scholarship when I started college 5 years ago. As a present to myself I went out and bought a $1900 computer with all of the money I saved for college, at the time it was the most expensive thing I owned. It was pretty nice when I bought it...a 120mhz 16mb IBM Aptiva. I can tell you that at the end of last year I was DYING for new computer. This summer I was finally able to afford to put a new one together and I love it.

I'm sure everything will work out but beware that brand new laptop is going to be a dog by the end of 4 years.

Good Luck

 

[Zenmervolt]

Yea, the GeForce Go (Mobile GeForce) annoyed me, I always order or upgrade at the end of a product's life. Got my 486-66 in 1994 (shoulda gotten the DX/4 100), got my Stealth II S220 video card at the end of Rendition's dominance, and on and on and on. Oh well, C'est La Vie.

EDIT: Yea, it will be a dog in 4 years, but I may as well enjoy it while it's on top. Although this is one of the few time when hardware has outpaced software (most things will run on a P-II 400) so maybe it won't be so bad after 4 years. </hopeless optimism>